7/25/2011 10:37:00 am -
Reported by
Chuck Foster

For every year since 2001 the Guardian has released the Media 100 - a list of who they consider are currently the most powerful people in the UK Media; candidates for the list are judged on cultural influence, economic clout and political power over the course of the last year.

This year sees Doctor Who and Sherlock lead writer Steven Moffat enter the chart as number 92:

Steven Moffat is one of a select band of writers and producers who is almost as famous as the stars who appear in his shows.

Not content with being the showrunner on the BBC's biggest-selling global hit, Doctor Who, he was also the co-creator, along with League of Gentlemen star Mark Gatiss, of one of BBC1's most acclaimed new dramas of last year, Sherlock.

Moffat, a long-time Whovian, began his TV career with the Bafta-winning children's show Press Gang and was best known for BBC2 sitcom Coupling before taking over from Russell T Davies on the time-travelling show. He also co-scripted new Steven Spielberg film, The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn.

BBC executives that have an influence of Doctor Who's future in the list include Director General Mark Thompson (4), Director of Vision George Entwistle (26), and BBC1 Controller Danny Cohen (14)

Moffat's predecessor Russell T Davies was a regular in the chart when he was overseeing Doctor Who, entering the chart strongly for his 2004 involvement in bringing the series back at number 14 in the 2005 list, followed up by 28 (2006), 15 (2007) and 31 (2008). The Doctor himself has also appeared in the past, represented by actor David Tennant who was listed as number 24 in 2007.

The list is drawn up by a panel of judges, which this year included Lorraine Heggessey, the BBC1 controller responsible for the decision to bring Doctor Who back into production during 2003 (and herself ranked 46/54 during that period).